British Muslims come together for first time since COVID Restrictions at UK’s largest Islamic Convention

Thousands of British Muslims will gather together for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for the UK’s longest-running Islamic conference.

Ahmadi Muslims from across the UK will descend on the 200-acre Oakland Farm in Hampshire for three days of worship and gathering at the event known as the ‘Jalsa Salana’.

Prior to last year’s global pandemic, well over 35,000 people from all over the world attended the last Jalsa, held in 2019. This year, only UK residents who have been double vaccinated were permitted to enter the ballot to attend this gathering.

Roughly 4,000 of those lucky enough to have been selected on the ballot will attend one of the three days of the event amid strict social distancing measures at the pop-up tent village from 6 to 8 August.

All attendees will need to show proof of double vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test result in order to gain entry. Face masks will be mandatory in all enclosed spaces, including the two marquees, each able to accommodate thousands of worshippers.

The highlight of the event will be the attendance of the global Islamic Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who will deliver an address to attendees on each of the three days of the Jalsa. The objective of the event is to highlight the true peaceful teachings of Islam and to enable the participants to increase their knowledge and understanding of Islamic teachings and practices.

Abid Khan, Press Secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community said: 

“This is the first time since the pandemic started that our members from across the UK have been able to meet and worship together with our Caliph. So, whilst we are sad that due to social distancing measures it is still not possible for everyone to be here or for guests from abroad to attend, unquestionably this is a wonderful and joyous occasion for our community. As for those who can’t attend in person, I am sure they will be watching on TV both here in the UK and across the world and so in that sense it is a truly international event.”

The event will also be broadcast online and on the Community’s worldwide television station, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (Sky 731), across its 19 television channels. Those unable to attend in person will gather to watch the proceedings together at Ahmadi Muslim mosques up and down the UK. This includes London’s first purpose-built mosque, The Fazl Mosque in Wandsworth, and the UK’s largest Mosque, Baitul-Futuh in Merton.